Norman, Oklahoma has built many public/private partnerships, including the formation of a Neighborhood Association Forum, which provides a unique approach to citizen participation. It is the residents or Norman who have provided the guidance and motivation to upgrade the living environment of Norman, and their strength is the backbone of the city's Consolidated Plan.
Norman's 1995 Consolidated Plan will use $1,059,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and $500,000 in HOME funds mainly for housing rehabilitation and improvement of public infrastructure.
The Consolidated Plan for Norman involves numerous agencies and departments in the citizen participation process. In addition, the city solicited communitywide input from residents and key representatives from civic clubs, social service boards, community volunteer committees, local political, religious and business groups, and social service providers.
The citizen participation process included board and advisory committee meetings, telephone and personal interviews, a public hearing and local meetings.
MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.
Located 30 miles south of Oklahoma City in Cleveland County, Norman is the county seat. The city is home to the University of Oklahoma, Norman Regional Hospital, Griffin State Memorial Hospital, and many regional offices and distribution centers for social services. Its population of 80,071 in 32,041 households is predominantly white (87 percent) with a minority population of 12 percent African American, Native American, Asian, Hispanic and Other combined. The average household income is $25,165, and 5,513 households (17 percent) are below poverty.
MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.
MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and minority concentration levels.
MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels.
Housing cost burdens and other problems are a significant problem for lower-income persons in Norman. Affordable housing units to meet the needs of large families are particularly scarce. The city needs to increase affordable homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income households, and also needs to assist existing homeowners in that income group to maintain their homes through rehabilitation programs. The need for accessible housing for the elderly and physically disabled is also significant.
Norman's 35,650 housing units are split almost equally between rental and owner-occupied units. The majority of housing stock is single-story and medium- to low-density. Citywide, there is a vacancy rate of 10 percent, with the majority of vacancies found in rental apartments (6 percent).
The real estate market is becoming tighter because there are fewer units for sale. In 1992 there were 775 units for sale as compared to 930 in 1991. Much of this is attributable to lower interest rates on home loans. In 1991 the median price for a single-family unit was $27,048, well below the average for all units in Norman, indicating that owner-occupied housing is not generally cost prohibitive to a median-income family of four.
Most of the housing units have two or more bedrooms, reflecting an existing supply of housing suitable for the needs of small families. However, because large rental families in all income categories experience substantial overcrowding, Norman has recommended the creation of three bedroom or larger units whenever feasible to all HOME project owners.
Forty-three percent of Norman's rental households and almost 12 percent of owner households are very low-income (0-50 percent of median family income [MFI]), and 83 percent of each group are experiencing housing problems. Many owner households are located in deteriorated buildings, and a large proportion are elderly households on fixed incomes with decreasing physical capabilities.
Twenty-one percent of rental households and almost 12 percent of owner households are considered low-income (51-80 percent of MFI). This group is heavily dominated by the small related households category, including single-parent families or households which consist of unrelated persons. In comparison, almost 9 percent of renter households and almost 7 percent of owner households are in the moderate-income category (81-95 percent of MFI). This group has fewer housing problems than the lower-income households. Overall, renters, especially large families, are experiencing a much higher incidence of overcrowding than homeowners.
The latest Census count revealed that there are 34 homeless persons in Norman, of which 85 percent were members of homeless families. Sixty-five percent of homeless persons were being served by transitional housing at the time of the count. The city works with 13 homeless facilities that serve its homeless population. The majority of shelters and homeless service providers indicated recently that they operate at or near capacity at all times.
Two facilities target homeless children under the age of 18 (Emergency Youth Shelter and Juvenile Services' Extended Families Program), and another targets victims of domestic violence (Norman Shelter for Battered Women). Five other facilities serve adults and children. The remaining facilities provide supportive services, mental health counseling, transitional living, skills training, food, and health care. In addition, the Homeless Here Coalition, the Social Services Coordinating Council, and the Mental Health Housing Task Force provide services such as client advocacy, program networking, and potential funding options.
The Norman Public Housing Authority manages 171 public housing units for citizens whose incomes are below 50 percent of MFI. The units break down into 99 0-to-1 bedroom units, 50 2-bedroom units, and 22 3-bedroom units. These units are located in four sites throughout the city and they have an occupancy rate of 100 percent.
In addition, the Authority administers 407 Section 8 certificates and 275 vouchers. Approximately 27 percent of these units are occupied by elderly persons. There is a current waiting list of 987 families, 72 percent of whom have a Federal preference.
Those within the special needs population, such as the elderly and disabled, lack adequate transportation and accessible housing. The disabled lack access to job training and educational facilities. Disabled persons needing supportive housing are estimated to be in excess of 75 units.
The Consolidated Plan for Norman identified two barriers to affordable housing: excessive mortgage paperwork and a lack of adequate information dissemination/counseling assistance for low-income persons interested in pursuing homeownership.
Norman provides fair housing information, referral, and counseling services through a contract with the Metropolitan Fair Housing Council on an annual basis.
While waiting for final rules regarding the testing and abatement of lead-based paint from the State of Oklahoma and HUD, Norman has included an amendment to its current Housing programs Handbook which states that lead-based paint abatement is an eligible and required activity for rehabilitation. This amendment includes provisions for notification and testing.
Norman has identified the following community development needs:
Norman has targeted rehabilitation of existing housing stock and affordable homeownership as their top priorities based on the need demonstrated in the community. Improving infrastructure in targeted neighborhoods is the top nonhousing priority.
The Consolidated Plan identified the following housing priorities in Norman:
Norman's antipoverty strategy includes the following:
The Consolidated Plan for Norman involves the cooperation of not only Federal, State, and local agencies, but also nonprofit organizations such as Action Inc., Food & Shelter for Friends, the Salvation Army, the Women's Resource Center, Progressive Independence, Pathways, Transition House, Habitat for Humanity, and the Metropolitan Fair Housing Council. The Norman Community Reinvestment Council is a for-profit coalition of local banking representatives that also contributes to implementation of the Consolidated Plan.
The Norman Public Housing Authority, which is responsible for all Section 8 and public housing administration, works in collaboration with Norman Community Development Division which is responsible for all HUD and other housing, homeless, and infrastructure programs. The State of Oklahoma's Department of Commerce is the regulatory agency for all Emergency Shelter Grant and FY 1994 HOME Funds administered by Norman.
Norman will continue to provide technical assistance to all groups applying for Consolidated Plan funds from the city.
MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 6 is a map, sectioned by neighborhood, which depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 7 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within one of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.
MAP 8 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within another of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.
MAP 9 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded project(s) from a street level vantage point; as well as, provides a table with information about the project(s).
The Consolidated Plan for Norman includes the following key projects which are implemented citywide:
All housing programs will be operated on a citywide basis, but the infrastructure improvements will be targeted to eight neighborhoods.
The Norman Community Development Division will administer all federally funded programs in the Consolidated Plan with the exception of public housing and Section 8.
